12.09.2025: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has called on local authority leaders to back the organisation’s Local Music Action Charter to help boost jobs, investment and growth.
UK Music sponsored the Local Government Association’s (LGA) drinks reception at its annual Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference. The event brought together local leaders, councillors, and stakeholders from across the country to discuss how they can better support culture and tourism in their communities.
This was a timely event, with Bradford being designated as the 2025 UK City of Culture. The city is already demonstrating how investment in culture can transform places and people’s lives. The reception took place at the newly refurbished Bradford Live, a striking venue and an example of the kind of regeneration that UK Music’s Hometown Glory report champions – where culture and music breathe new life into local areas.
Speaking at the event, UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl underlined the vital role that music plays not just nationally but locally. He set out how Hometown Glory provides a roadmap for local leaders to utilise music, embedding it into local strategies to support skills, tourism, and economic growth.
He encouraged all local leaders to back this vision by signing up to the Local Music Action Charter. The charter offers local economies and communities a practical framework that enables local leaders to identify priority areas such as growth, high streets, or education, and take forward meaningful policy actions in these areas.
The audience also heard from Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee, and local Bradford Councillor, Ross Shaw. They emphasised the importance of the conference for allowing local authorities to share experiences, ideas, and best practice on cultural development.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader Bradford Council, and UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl discuss the issues of the day at the LGA Culture Conference in Bradford
The reception highlighted a strong appetite among local leaders to explore how music can be a driver of renewal and prosperity. With Bradford as a shining example, UK Music is working to ensure towns and cities across the UK can unlock the full potential of their local music scenes.
You can read Tom’s speech below:
“UK Music is the umbrella body for the music industry. We bring the sector together to collaborate, campaign and champion music. Our members range from creator organisations like the Musician Union, Music Managers Forum, Featured Artists Coalition, the Ivors Academy and Music Producers Guild, to music businesses such as the BPI and AIM, the Music Publishers Association, as well as music licensing bodies PPL and PRS for Music.
“The music industry is worth £7.6 billion to the economy, it generates exports of £4.6 billion and employs 210,000 people.
“Music also has a profound impact on other parts of the economy, too.
“23.5 million ‘music tourists’ attended UK shows in 2024 – a record and increase of 23% year-on-year. What is more, there was a 62% increase in people coming from overseas. This led to a surge in spending, generating a £10 billion boost to local economies.
“From Glastonbury to Taylor Swift, our concerts and festivals are leading the world. Just imagine the figures we may reveal next year following the recent Britpop summer!
“I am personally a great believer in local democracy. I really believe that the best decisions can be made at a level closest to the people.
“This is why in July, to coincide with the Local Government Association Annual Conference in Liverpool UK Music launched our Hometown Glory report.
“This vital report sets out a clear case as to how supporting music can drive economic growth.
“Hometown Glory revealed that local music boosts towns and tourism, powers national and economic growth, enhances the business environment and supports creative careers and skills.
“The public clearly love music in their area. Polling for Hometown Glory revealed 22 million people say it is important to have access to music events within a reasonable distance to where people live, 6 in 10 adults feel local music should be better supported by their Council, and half of UK adults say that they would be more likely to go to music events if public transport matched event times better.
“Local authorities, local leaders, planning and licensing, business and investors and skills and education are also crucial ingredients for how we grow local music.
“At the heart of Hometown Glory is the Local Music Action Plan. This sets out a series of practical steps for local councils to take forward in support of music. Policymakers can use the charter to select a strategic priority, whether its growth, skills, high street, tourism or inclusion that can then enable them to explore relevant actions. These can be embedded into existing local plans and strategies.
“I would encourage all local authorities to commit to at least one priority area and harness the social and economic power of music in their communities. By signing up authorities will receive UK Music policy briefings, book a six month check-in with the team to discuss progress, feature in our newsletter and social media channels, and have an opportunity to take part in forums convened by UK Music.
“Music is the most powerful form of communication that we have and has the power to bring people together. The music industry stands ready to work with you all to make this happen.
“Thank you and have a good evening.”
PHOTO (left to right): Darren Ellis, Bradford Music Scene, Davinder Singh, Punjabi roots, Lisa Mallaghan, Bradford Producing Hub, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader Bradford Council, Cllr Julie Jones Evans, CTS committee, Tom Kiehl, Chief Executive, UK Music, Darren Moore, Trafalgar Entertainment, Daniel Bates, City of Culture UK
